Israeli strikes kill at least 100 in Gaza as assault on north intensifies

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The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday has topped 100, more than 60 of whom were in Gaza City, medics tell Al Jazeera Arabic.

At least 37 people seeking aid were among the dead, they said.

Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Wednesday he plans to greenlight the E1 settlement project east of Jerusalem in a move he said is aimed at "burying the idea of a Palestinian state".

Plans to build a new settlement between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim have been frozen since the early 1990s due to international opposition.

The project would separate the northern West Bank from the south, rendering a contiguous Palestinian state unviable.

"Approval of construction plans in E1 buries the idea of a Palestinian state and continues the many steps we are taking on the ground as part of the de facto sovereignty plan that we began implementing with the establishment of the government," Smotrich said in a statement.

He continued: "After decades of international pressure and freezes, we are breaking conventions and connecting Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem. This is Zionism at its best - building, settling and strengthening our sovereignty in the Land of Israel." 

Saudi Arabia has joined other Arab states denouncing Benjamin Netanyahu's comments supporting expansionist ambitions for a so-called 'Greater Israel'.

In a statement Wednesday, the foreign ministry condemned "in the strongest terms possible" Netanyahu's remarks and expressed its "outright rejection of the settlement and expansionist plans adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities".

At least 98 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday, including 14 people seeking aid, medical sources tell Al Jazeera Arabic.

Sixty-one of those were killed in Gaza City, as the Israeli military intensifies its onslaught on the north of the strip.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned Israel that it could be included in the organisation's list of countries and groups credibly accused of committing sexual violence.

A draft of the UN’s annual Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence seen by The Times of Israel does not mention Israel. But in a letter to Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon, Guterres said there was "grave concern" that Israeli security forces had sexually abused Palestinian prisoners and that the country could be included in next year's list.

There have been multiple account of Israeli troops raping Palestinian male prisoners since 7 October 2023, including at the infamous Sde Teiman facility. 

The UN has included Hamas on its list for the first time in the 2025 report.

One person was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The strike targeted a vehicle on the Haris–Hadatha road in southern Lebanon.

Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes across Lebanon since signing a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in November.

Qatar has condemned comments made by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Tuesday expressed support for the expansionist 'Greater Israel' project.

Promoted by the Israeli far-right, the idea envisages the country annexing land in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, in addition to the occupied Palestinian territories.

In a statement, Qatar's foreign ministry rejected Netanyahu's "absurd, inflammatory" remarks, calling them symptomatic of the "arrogance" of Israeli policy that fuels conflict and violates international law.

The Israeli military has "approved plans to occupy Gaza", Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said during a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday.

Israel's security cabinet last week approved plans to seize control of the northern city as part of what it says is a plan to destroy Hamas.

The city is one of the few remaining areas of the strip that has not been flattened by the Israeli military, and is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The Israeli military has stepped up its bombardment of northern Gaza in recent days and on Wednesday reportedly killed at least 52 people in Gaza City alone.

At least 89 Palestinians have now been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday, medics tell Al Jazeera Arabic, as the assault on the north of the enclave intensifies.

Fifty-two were killed in Gaza City as the Israeli military escalates its bombardment ahead of an expected ground invasion.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel announced her arrival in South Sudan in a post on social media platform X,  in the wake of an Associated Press report claiming Israel has held talks on resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in South Sudan.

The South Sudanese government stated that the allegations were “baseless,” further emphasising it does not reflect official policy.

Haskel said she met with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba, and other officials, signed a diplomatic memorandum of understanding, and toured an Israeli trauma centre that she says “saved dozens of children’s lives.”

At least 81 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip since dawn, according to Al Jazeera Arabic, citing medical sources.

Among those killed, 26 were aid seekers. Gaza City was the hardest hit, with 45 fatalities reported.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin has criticised Israel for targeting journalists in Gaza, saying these attacks have brought global attention to Israel’s abuses in the region.

Speaking at a briefing in Ramallah, she said, “Intentional killing of Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues is yet another war crime committed by Israel, added to the thousands of their war crimes to silence the truth.”

Shahin added that such actions only highlight Israel’s wrongdoing, stating, “The more Israel does things of this nature, the more the world realises that Israel is committing wrongdoing in Gaza. Silencing journalists means that there is something very catastrophic taking place in Gaza. The whole world now is saying it very openly and very loudly.”

South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday rejected an Associated Press (AP) report alleging it was in discussions with Israel to resettle Palestinians in the East African nation.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly refutes recent media reports claiming that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan is engaged in discussion with the State of Israel regarding the resettlement of Palestinian nationals from Gaza in South Sudan," the ministry said in a Facebook statement.

"These claims are baseless and do not reflect the official position or policy of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan," it added.

AP reported that six sources familiar with the matter confirmed such talks had taken place but noted it was unclear how far they had progressed.

Hamas expressed its keenness on a speedy return to Gaza ceasefire negotiations during a meeting with the Egyptian intelligence chief in Cairo as mediators push for talks, Egypt's state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV said on Wednesday.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry has denounced comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he voiced support for what he called the "Greater Israel vision."

The term encompasses Israel, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.

In a statement, the ministry described Netanyahu’s remarks as a dangerous and provocative escalation, a threat to the sovereignty of other states, and a breach of international law and the UN Charter.

Ministry spokesperson Sufyan Qudah said the Israeli leader’s statements and policies reflect “the critical situation of the Israeli government,” which comes amid growing international isolation over its ongoing assaults on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Qudah stressed the urgent need for the international community to take immediate action to halt “all provocative Israeli actions and statements that threaten the region’s stability and international peace and security.”

Israel’s military said it killed five armed fighters in the Gaza Strip who were allegedly pretending to work for the US-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity, which condemned anyone posing as humanitarian personnel.

The military said it found the five were not affiliated with the charity before killing them in an air strike last week, during which they were wearing WCK clothing and posing a threat to Israeli troops.

“The terrorists deliberately affixed the emblem and wore yellow vests in an attempt to conceal their activity and avoid being targeted, cynically exploiting the status and trust afforded to aid organizations,” the statement said.

WCK said late on Tuesday that it was contacted by Israeli authorities and confirmed the vehicle and people were not linked to the group.

“We strongly condemn anyone posing as WCK or other humanitarians as this endangers civilians and aid workers,” it said in a statement.

Israel’s military did not provide the identities of those killed in last week’s incident.

WCK did not give more details or say whether those targeted had previously been affiliated with the organization.

An Israeli strike in April last year hit a convoy of three WCK vehicles, killing seven of its staff, including foreign aid workers. Israel apologised for what it described as a mistake.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for Iranians to rise up against their government over power and water shortages.

Netanyahu's video message on Tuesday came as Iran grapples with persistent water and electricity shortages amid spells of hot weather.

It also came just two months after a 12-day war between the arch-foes, which began with Israel's unprecedented attack on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure as well as residential areas.

In his remarks, the Israeli premier called on Iranians to "take risks for freedom", "take to the streets" and demand accountability from the Iranian government.

He suggested bringing Israeli water experts to provide "cutting-edge technology and know-how" to Tehran.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian hit out at Netanyahu.

"The regime that deprived the people of Gaza of water and food wants to bring water to the people of Iran? What a mirage!" said Pezeshkian.

رژیمی که مردم غزه را از آب و غذا محروم کرده می‌خواهد برای مردم ایران آب بیاورد؟
چه سرابی!

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) August 13, 2025

Activists and journalists gathered on the steps of St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, to mourn journalists killed in Gaza, including four Al Jazeera staff members and two freelancers.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Blood on your hands,” “No more genocide,” and “Stop the killing, stop the war.”

People in Cape Town, South Africa protest against journalists’ killings and the genocide in Gaza.

📸 @CrystalOrderson pic.twitter.com/JOEDf0GmOD

— Clauda Tanios (@ClaudaTanios) August 13, 2025

Turkey's foreign minister and his Syrian counterpart on Wednesday warned Israel not to stir up chaos in Syria and demanded an end to all external interventions aimed at destabilising the war-torn country.

"Certain actors are bothered by the positive developments in Syria," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after talks with Syria's Asaad al-Shibani in Ankara, referring to Israel and Kurdish YPG fighters operational in northeastern Syria.

"Israel is currently one of the biggest actors in this dark picture," he said of its ongoing military incursions since the overthrow of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad late last year.

"The emergence of chaos in Syria... appears to have become a priority for Israel's own national security," he said.

Standing next to him, Shaibani also warned against efforts to foster chaos in Syria.

"We're facing new challenges that are no less dangerous than those we encountered during the years of war, foremost among them are repeated Israeli threats... through airstrikes," he said.

At least 55 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza since dawn, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera English.

Gaza City, the target of intense Israeli military assaults, accounted for 33 of the deaths.

Among the victims were 22 people seeking aid, including 13 killed near an aid centre north of Rafah, sources at the Nasser Medical Complex reported.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Iran's visiting security chief on Wednesday that he rejected any interference in the country's internal affairs, branding as "unconstructive" Iran's statements on plans to disarm Hezbollah.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani's visit to Lebanon comes after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise plans to disarm the Tehran-backed group Hezbollah.

Following his arrival in Beirut, Larijani vowed that his government would continue to provide support, after it expressed opposition to the disarmament plan.

"We reject any interference in our internal affairs," Aoun said, adding that "it is forbidden for anyone... to bear arms and to use foreign backing as leverage," according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency posted on X.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated in Beirut on Wednesday that Tehran does not interfere in Lebanon’s decision-making and that foreign countries should not dictate policies to Lebanon.

At least 123 Palestinians, including 21 aid workers, have been killed and 437 others injured in Israeli strikes across Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.

During the same period, at least eight people, including three children, have died from starvation, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 235, with 106 of them children, the ministry reported.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed 61,722 Palestinians and injured 154,525, the Health Ministry added.

The ministry also noted that since May 27, when Israel implemented a new aid distribution system via the US-based Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), 1,859 aid workers have been killed and more than 13,594 injured.

A Hamas official said Wednesday that Israeli forces were making "aggressive" incursions into Gaza City, after the military approved the framework for a new offensive in the territory.

"The Israeli occupation forces continue to carry out aggressive incursions in Gaza City," Ismail Al-Thawabta, director general of the government media office in Gaza, told AFP.

"These assaults represent a dangerous escalation aimed at imposing a new reality on the ground by force, through a scorched earth policy and the complete destruction of civilian property."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a plan, also suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, for Palestinians to evacuate the enclave, home to more than 2 million people.

“They’re not being pushed out, they’ll be allowed to exit,” Netanyahu told Israeli channel i24NEWS.

“All those who are concerned for the Palestinians and say they want to help should open their gates and stop lecturing us.”

The proposal has drawn international criticism, with Arabs and global leaders comparing it to the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced.

Officials say Israel’s full recapture of Gaza City, which it briefly controlled at the start of the war, could take weeks, leaving room for a possible ceasefire, although talks have struggled amid ongoing fighting.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, held a press conference following his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Israeli forces have detained 10 Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office (ASRA).

ASRA said the arrests took place in Qalqilyah, Nablus, and Hebron, and included three former prisoners and a 17-year-old.

The office reported that Israeli forces closed roads, set up checkpoints, and searched the homes of those taken into custody.

The death toll in Gaza since dawn has risen to at least 29, following Israeli air strikes and gunfire across the territory, Al Jazeera Arabic reported on Tuesday.

Citing medical sources, AJA reported that at least 10 of those killed were people seeking aid who were shot by Israeli forces.

The Israeli military said Wednesday it had approved the "framework" for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, days after the security cabinet called for the seizure of Gaza City.

The country's military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir "approved the main framework for the [Israel army's] operational plan in the Gaza Strip," a statement released by the army said.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday that Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost the plot” as the country weighs up whether to recognise a Palestinian state.

Luxon told reporters that the lack of humanitarian assistance, the forceful displacement of people, and the annexation of Gaza were utterly appalling, and that Netanyahu had gone way too far.

“I think he has lost the plot,” added Luxon, who heads the centre-right coalition government. “What we are seeing overnight, the attack on Gaza City, is utterly, utterly unacceptable.”

Luxon said earlier this week New Zealand was considering whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK, and France in announcing it would do so at a U.N. conference in September.

Britain, France and Germany have told the United Nations they are ready to reimpose UN-mandated sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme if no diplomatic solution is found by the end of August, according to a joint letter obtained by AFP.

The letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council says the three European powers are "committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon" unless Tehran meets the deadline.

The foreign ministers from the so-called E3 group threaten to use a "snapback mechanism" that was part of a 2015 international deal with Iran that eased UN Security Council sanctions.

Under the deal, which terminates in October, any party to the accord can restore the sanctions.

All three have stepped up warnings to Iran about its suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran's top security chief vowed in Lebanon on Wednesday that his government would continue to provide support, after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise a plan to disarm Tehran-backed group Hezbollah.

Ali Larijani's trip to Lebanon comes after Iran expressed opposition to a government plan to disarm Hezbollah, which before a war with Israel last year was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military.

"If... the Lebanese people are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances," Larijani, the head of the National Security Council, told reporters after landing in Beirut.

Dozens of Hezbollah supporters gathered along the airport road to welcome Larijani. He briefly stepped out of his car to greet them as they chanted slogans of support.

In Lebanon, Larijani is scheduled to meet President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is close to Hezbollah.